مَذْهَبٌ

is a verbal noun: (JK, A, K:)

and also signifies A place of ذَهَاب [or going, &c.]: and a time thereof. (JK.)

[Also A place to which one goes: see an example voce مَحْضَرٌ.

And hence,] (tropical:) A place to which one goes for the purpose of satisfying a want of nature; a privy; (TA;) i. q. مُتَوَضَّأٌ; (JK, A, K, TA;) in the dialect of the people of El-Hijáz. (JK, A, TA.)

[Also A way by which one goes or goes away.

And hence, as in several exs. in the first paragraph of this article,] (tropical:) A way, course, mode, or manner, of acting or conduct or the like: (Msb, K, TA:) (tropical:) [a way that one pursues in respect of doctrines and practices in religion &c.; and particularly a way of believing, opining, thinking, or judging;] a belief, a creed, a persuasion, a doctrine, an opinion, a tenet, or a body of tenets or articles of belief; (K, TA;) an opinion in, or respecting, religion; and, according to Es-Sarakustee, an innovation in religion: (Msb:) and ↓ ذَهْبٌ signifies the same. (JK, TA.) [The plural is مَذَاهِبُ. Hence, ذَوُو مَذَاهِبُ (assumed tropical:) Persuasions, as meaning persons holding particular tenets in religion or the like.]

Also (assumed tropical:) Origin: (Ks, Lh, K:) so in the sayings, مَا يُدْرَى لَهُ أَيْنَ مَذْهَبَهُ and لَا يُدْرَى لَهُ مَذْهَبٌ, i. e. (assumed tropical:) It is not known whence is his origin. (Ks, Lh, TA.)